'It's the sovereignty of the country': Guinea-Bissau says US vaccine study suspended

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US Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau Suspended Amid Controversy Over Ethics and Sovereignty

Guinea-Bissau has cancelled a US-funded vaccine study on hepatitis B vaccination after major changes to the US vaccination schedule raised questions about the ethics of conducting such research in other countries. The move comes as international health officials, including those from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), defend the study's integrity.

According to Quinhin Nantote, Guinea-Bissau's new minister of health, the trial was suspended due to concerns over the science behind it. A team of researchers will travel to Guinea-Bissau to help review the study and ensure its conduct meets international standards.

However, US officials have called into question the credibility of Africa CDC, claiming that the organization is waging a "public-relations campaign" aimed at shaping public perception rather than engaging with scientific facts. They also described the Africa CDC as a "powerless, fake organization attempting to manufacture credibility".

In contrast, Abdulhammad Babatunde, a medical doctor and global health researcher in Nigeria, argues that Africans want to solve their own problems, not just satisfy the curiosity of funders. He notes that the study's design is unacceptable, particularly since infants would be given vaccines at birth or withheld until six weeks old.

The World Health Organization recommends administering the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. Guinea-Bissau currently has limited access to healthcare and vaccination services, with nearly one in five adults and about 11% of young children having hepatitis B.

Guinea-Bissau's government has taken a firm stance on its sovereignty, insisting that international organizations or foreign countries should not dictate research decisions. Director-general of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, said, "It's the sovereignty of the country. I don't know what will be this decision, but I will support the decision that the minister will make."

As controversy surrounding the study unfolds, concerns are being raised about the need for greater transparency and accountability in research conducted in low-resource countries. The international community is urged to respect Guinea-Bissau's sovereignty while promoting evidence-based research practices.

The country faces significant healthcare challenges, including limited access to basic services such as water and sanitation, poverty, food insecurity, high maternal mortality rates, and malaria being a leading cause of death. Despite these hurdles, Guinea-Bissau's authorities are committed to addressing these issues.

As the situation continues to evolve, it is essential for all parties involved to prioritize transparency, ethics, and respect for sovereignty in research practices.
 
🤝 I think this whole thing has blown over a bit too quickly. The fact that Guinea-Bissau suspended the vaccine study doesn't necessarily mean the research was bad, but more so that they were prioritizing their own health needs first 🙌. I'd love to see more transparency about the study's design and methodology from both sides. And can we talk about how ridiculous it is for some folks to be questioning the credibility of Africa CDC? 😒 Like, come on! We need to support global health initiatives that benefit everyone, not just those who are funding them 🌎💖
 
omg, this whole thing with the vaccine study in guinea-bissau is just wild 🤯! like, i get why they're concerned about ethics and sovereignty, but come on, folks! we gotta be real about the state of healthcare in those countries 🤕. it's not easy to get medical services or vaccines out there, so when a study comes along that could potentially make a big difference... u gotta have confidence that it's gonna work 💯.

and can we talk about how the US is being super shady on africa CDC? like, what's the real reason they're calling them out 🤑? it sounds like some major public-relations BS to me 📺. and meanwhile, guinea-bissau is just trying to do what's best for its people 🙏.

anywayz, this whole thing is a good reminder that in research, we gotta prioritize transparency and accountability 💡. especially when working with vulnerable populations 🌎. can't wait to see how it all plays out 💥
 
Come on, what's going on here? 🤔 A vaccine study gets suspended over some major changes to the US vaccination schedule and suddenly everyone's losing their minds? The US officials are just trying to save face after they got caught being total hypocrites... I mean, who wouldn't want to do vaccine research in Guinea-Bissau if it means getting access to more data and funding? 🤑 But seriously, it's a no-brainer that the trial needs to be redesigned. Giving vaccines to infants at birth is just basic human decency and public health 101. The fact that the Africa CDC is being called out for its "public-relations campaign" is just ridiculous... they're trying to hold the US to some kind of high standard, which is about time someone did. And can we talk about how Guinea-Bissau's sovereignty is being respected here? 🤝 It's not like the country is asking for handouts or anything, it just wants to do its own research and make its own decisions about its people's health. We should be supporting them all the way. 💪
 
🤔 come on, folks... I mean, think about this - a US-funded vaccine study gets derailed because some countries want to make their own decisions? I get it, we need to look out for each other, but let's not forget that the real issue here is transparency and accountability. Like, what was going through those researchers' minds when they changed the vaccine schedule without consulting anyone? 🙄

And can we please just take a deep breath about the whole Africa CDC thing? I know some folks are saying it's fake or whatever, but let's not jump to conclusions. Let's focus on getting the facts straight and making sure that research is conducted with integrity.

I mean, Guinea-Bissau has got some serious healthcare challenges going on, from hepatitis B to malaria... like, can't we all just try to help each other out here? 🤝 I'm not saying it's easy, but sometimes you gotta take a step back and think about what's really important: helping people, not making headlines. 💔
 
I'm really concerned about this whole thing 🤕. I mean, can you blame them for being cautious? The idea of changing a vaccine schedule without proper testing on a vulnerable population is pretty scary 🚨. And what's with the US officials attacking Africa CDC? Like, who are they to question their credibility? 🙄 It feels like some folks just want to push their own agenda without considering the bigger picture.

As someone who's followed this story, I think it's clear that Guinea-Bissau's decision is not about being paranoid or resistant to change – it's about protecting its people and its sovereignty 💪. We need more transparency and accountability in research, but we also have to respect countries' right to make their own decisions.

And can we talk about the real issues here? Like, poverty, limited access to healthcare, food insecurity... these are the things that should be getting attention 🤝. Not just some vaccine study that's got everyone up in arms. We need to focus on building strong health systems and supporting countries like Guinea-Bissau as they work to address these challenges 💕.
 
🤔 I think this whole thing is kinda wild... like they're trying to say that because Guinea Bissau has its own problems with healthcare, it doesn't matter if the study's being done right or not? 🤷‍♂️ But at the same time, I get why the country is all about being in control of its own decisions. It's their country, after all! 💪

I mean, the hepatitis B vaccine is like, super important for preventing liver disease and all that... but I also feel bad for Guinea Bissau because they're just not getting the resources they need to take care of their people. 🤕 It's like, can't we all just try to work together to make sure everyone has access to good healthcare? 🤝

I guess what really gets my goat is when countries or organizations start saying that other countries' research decisions aren't valid because they're "powerless" or whatever... 😒 That just feels like a bunch of hooey. We should be working together, not trying to tear each other down! 👊
 
omg u guys, can u believe this?? 🤯 so like there's this vaccine study in guinea bissau funded by the us & now its been suspended because some ppl are saying its not right 2 be doin research on other countries w/o their consent lol who r we 2 judge tho? 🙅‍♂️ maybe they just wanna take control of their own healthcare decisions but at the same time its true that the africa CDC is tryna shape public perception & thats whatevs.

anywayz i think this whole situation highlights how important it is for research to be transparent & ethically sound esp in low-resource countries w/ limited access 2 healthcare services. we gotta respect guinea bissaus sovereignty but also make sure theres accountability 4 the actions taken.

btw i cant help but wonder wut would happen if we just let countries decide whats best 4 them & didnt try 2 impose our own agendas 🤔
 
the US government should really take a chill pill 🤯 when it comes to their vaccine studies abroad... like what's next? sending their scientists to 'study' the problems of other countries without even considering the implications on local healthcare systems? Guinea-Bissau is trying to protect its sovereignty and ensure that research is being conducted in a way that respects its people's needs, not just the interests of funders 🤑 it's all about power dynamics, man... if they're gonna do some kinda vaccine study, they should at least have the decency to consult with local experts first 👨‍⚕️
 
😕 this is so messed up! i mean, i get that they wanna protect their sovereignty and all but come on, a vaccine study for hepatitis b? like, how hard can it be to get a few million bucks from the us to help out their healthcare system 🤑. and now guinea-bissau's all bent outta shape because of some controversy over ethics and stuff... honestly, i think the real problem is that they're just not getting enough support from the international community 🤷‍♀️. like, how many times do you gotta tell people that research needs to be done in a way that respects the country's sovereignty? 🙄
 
🤔 this study thingy got me thinking, if its so bad why are they still doin it? like they say theres a power vacuum or somethin but africa needs help yeah get it but do we really gotta micromanage everythin? 🤷‍♀️ i mean wot's the point of havin all these health orgs if not to just make sure everythin runs smoothly? seems like its more politics than science in my book 👎
 
🤔 This whole thing is kinda like a scene from that movie "Syriana" where they're talking about oil prices and who's in control... but instead of oil, it's vaccines and governments 🧬💸 I mean, I get why Guinea-Bissau wants to protect their sovereignty, but at the same time, you've gotta wonder if the US is just trying to get their research done without any strings attached 💔. And those international health officials are caught in the middle, trying to mediate and make sure everything runs smoothly 🤝. It's all very complex...
 
omg this study is like so messed up 🤯 i mean its not about them trying to control the country but more about the fact that guinea bissau is already struggling with heaps of health issues and now they're being told how to do a vaccine trial? 🤷‍♀️ its like they're trying to add another thing on their plate.

i feel for africa cdc tho, they are just trying to help 💕 but it sounds like there's been some major communication breakdown between the countries involved. the point is that guinea bissau has every right to make decisions about what happens in their own country 🌎 and we should be supporting them rather than questioning their sovereignty.

what gets me though is how this is being played out in the media 📰 its all about "power struggles" and "public relations campaigns" but really its about people's lives 💔. guinea bissau has some serious health issues that need addressing and instead of getting support they're getting scrutinized for trying to do things their own way 👎
 
omg u gotta think about this...if rich countries just fund random studies in poor countries without checking if they're even good 4 the ppl who'll be part of it, it's gonna be a huge mess 🤯💉 especially w/ something as serious as vaccines. like, how can we trust these orgs when they don't care about what's best 4 guinea-bissau? and btw, what's up w/ africa CDC being called fake? that's just hurtful & unprofessional 😔👎
 
🤔 I think this whole thing is kinda a silver lining opportunity for Africa 🌅. I mean, countries like Guinea-Bissau are finally standing up for themselves and saying no to being dictated by foreign powers when it comes to their healthcare decisions 🙌. It's like, we're living in a new era where Africa gets to take the reins and make its own decisions about what research is needed 💪. And I guess it's also a good chance for international organizations like the WHO to step up their game and be more transparent about their practices 👀. And let's not forget, these countries are already dealing with so many health challenges 🤕. Maybe this whole thing will push them towards better research methods and outcomes 🌱!
 
🤔 this whole thing is super concerning... if the US is questioning the credibility of Africa CDC just because they're trying to assert their own interests then that's not cool at all 🙅‍♂️. as someone who cares about global health, it feels like we're just piling more complexity on top of already struggling healthcare systems. what's really needed here is a collaborative effort from governments and international organizations to support research that prioritizes the needs and sovereignty of low-resource countries 💚. can't just keep telling them what to do without even trying to understand their context 🤷‍♀️
 
🤔 I'm like totally confused about this whole thing... how can a study be suspended just because some US officials don't like how things are being run? 🙄 shouldn't the focus be on helping Guinea-Bissau solve their healthcare problems rather than on who's in charge? 😕 and what's up with all these people having different opinions on what's best for the country... isn't it about getting the vaccine to as many people as possible? 💉 does it really matter how the vaccines are given out at birth or not? 🤷‍♀️ and I'm worried that this is just going to delay progress even further... can't we all just get along and figure this out? 😟
 
🤔 I feel bad for Africa CDC, they're just trying to do their job, ya know? 🙏 US officials are being super unfair, making stuff up about them. It's not fair to label an org as "powerless" or "fake". They're doing important work over there and we should be supporting them more. 🤝 We need to focus on the real issues at hand, like how to improve healthcare in low-resource countries. It's not a zero-sum game, where one side wins and another loses. Can't we just try to find common ground and work together? 💡
 
🤔 just had to think about this for a sec... I mean, what's the point of investing millions into vaccine studies if you're not gonna get the results right? 🤑 these international organizations gotta step up their game & make sure research is done ethically & with the local community in mind 🌎💊 don't wanna be a pawn in someone else's game like this... Guinea-Bissau's got every right to take control of their own healthcare decisions 👍 [link to Africa CDC](https://www.africancdc.org/)
 
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